New Legislation Would Improve Access to Emergency Contraception For Rape Victims

Content

Author

Steph Auteri

Published date

Sep 25, 2014

New legislation introduced in the Senate this past Tuesday would require federally funded hospitals—under Medicare or Medicaid—to provide emergency contraception to rape victims who request it. A group of Democrats are backing this legislation, titled the "Emergency Contraception Access and Education Act of 2014."

The proposed bill says that a contraceptive drug must be provided if it is approved by the FDA and "prevents pregnancy primarily by preventing or delaying ovulation, and does not terminate an established pregnancy."

The bill would also require require hospitals to provide information about emergency contraceptives.